Apparatus for oil well drilling



May 16, 1939. Jj G, DYER APPARATUS FOR OIL WELL DRILLING Original Filed Sept. 16, 1935 wt/g. 1.

INVENTOR BY das@ /mf AT ORNEY n Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,158,356 ArrAaA'rUs ron on. wenn Damme Joseph G. Dyer, Ponca City, Okla., assignor to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware original application september 16, 193s, serial Divided and this application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,831

mm. (ci. c55-2s) Myinvention relates to an apparatus for oilwell drilling and more particularly to an 'apparatus for rotary drilling, using circulating oil well muds.

5 This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 40,746, tiled September 16,1935.

In drilling deep oil wells, the method employed` is by means of a rotary drill in which the drill cave in,'or Slough. The reason for this' action is' not known. It may be due to gelling action. It may be that it is due to release of the circulating pressure which normally is from 500 to 1500 pounds per square inch. In drilling operations through strata of heaving shale,'.if circulation 'is discontinued for any reason, there is great'danger of losingthe well which could be avoided by insuring continuous circulation of the oil well circulating uid. I

Continuous circulation ofoil well uid would be of great value in drilling in high pressure gas areas where, if the pressure is released by stopping the oil well circulating iluid, blowoutsmay occur. In formations which tend to cave, a continuous circulation of oil well fluid at all times will prevent dilculties.

In drilling, as the operation continues, it is necessary to add sections of drill pipe, during which time in th present method of drilling, thev circulation of the oil well iluid must be discontinued.' If the drilling is through a layer of heaving shale" the ceasing of oil well mud circulation is apt to cause and has caused the loss of the well through the breaking of the drill string due to the gripping thereof by the swelling of the heaving shale.

One object of m'y invention is to provide a means of drilling oil wells in which continuous uninterrupted mud circulation is maintained at all ltimes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means of maintaining -oil well fluid circulation while sections are being added to the drill pipe.

In thel accompanying drawing which forms part of the instant speciilcation and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views, l

Figure 1 is a diagrammatieview of a portion 5 of a drilling rig and a drill hole showing one form of apparatus capable of carrying out the method of my invention. 1

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the union used to connect two sections of drill 10 pipe, showing a short nipple to which is secured the valve assembly which forms part of the apparatus oi my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the .line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In general; my invention contemplates the provision of a union between sections of drill pipe through which oil well iiuid circulation may be maintained.

Referring nowmore particularly to the draw- 2O ing, a derrick I enables long sections of drill pipe to be lowered and raised through a tackle of which 2is the lower block supporting a swivel hook 3. The upper section of the drill string comprises a tube, square in cross section. This tube l is 25 adapted to be lowered through a square hole in a rotary table 5 so, when the rotary table is rotated, the squared length will be rotated. This square length is known as the Kelly. To the upperend of the Kelly is secured a connection 6 30 by means of a swivel joint 1. The drill pipe 8 is connected to the Kelly 4 by means of an assembly winch comprises a short nipple I0 which is secured to the upper end of the drill pipe 8, a valve assembly 9 and a short nipple 25 which is con- 35 nected to the Kelly 4. A similar short nipple 25 is connected to the lower'end oi each section oi the drill pipe. 'I'he 'oil well mud sump is showny at II.

In my invention, each valve assembly 9 is pro- 40 vided with a valve I2 and a threaded opening I3. The valve may be of any suitable type but is shown as a hinged iiap valve adapted to rotate around the pivot I4. 'I'he arrangement is such that the flap valve will normally cover the open- 45 ing I3 but may pivot to the dotted line position of Figure 2 to cover opening I5 which communicates with the drill pipe or Kelly through short nipple 25 into the screw threads IB. The iiap valve I2 is provided with a screw threaded ex- 50 tension 28 which is adapted to project into the threaded 4opening I3. A plug member 21 is adapted to be screwed on extension 28 as shown in Figure 2, normally holding the valve I2 in the position covering the side opening in the valve assembly. Normally, a quantity of lengths of drill pipe are assembled in the vicinity of the drill hole to form "stands of drill pipe. Each stand may consist of one, two, or three joints of pipe, depending upon the height of the derrick, length of the Kelly, type of drilling, and the like; 'I'he sections of the stand are joined to one another by means of the usual pipe union. which may consist of members and I0, screwed directly into each other. At the top of each stand, a valve assembly 9 is placed. It will be observed that the Valve body acts as a connecting medium or union between the Kelly and the drill stem.

Normally, oil well iluid circulation is malntained by pumping oil well mud fromthe sump II through pipe I1 through which the pump I8 takes suction. 'I'he pump discharges through valve controlled flexible conduit I9 which is normally connected to the member 6 `at the top of the Kelly, as shown in Figure 1. The mud passes down through the drill pipe 'assembly out through the openings in the drill bit 20, into the drill hole 2I where it flows upwardly and is taken out of the well casing 22 through a pipe 23 and is discharged into the sump II. It is understood, of course, Athat the Kelly 4, during drilling, is being operated by the rotary table 5. When the drilling has progressed to such an extent that it is necessary to add a new section of drill pipe, the tackle is operated to lift the assembly so that the last section' of the drill pipe and the union assembly composed of short nipple 25, valve assembly 9, and short nipple IIJ are above the rotary table. Short nipples 25 and I Il may be of any suitable construction known to the art for making union between sections of drill pipe. In this position, the drill string is supported by any suitable means known to the art.

The plug 2'I is unscrewed from the valve body and a hose 29, which is controlled by a suitable valve, is screwed into the screw threaded open'- ing I3. While this operation takes place, the circulation is being maintained through hose I9.

When connection is made, the valve controlling hose 29 is opened and momentarilyV mud is being supplied through both hoses I9 and 29. The valve controlling hose I9 is then closed and circulation takes place as before through hose 29. The Kelly is then disconnected and a new stand of pipe is joined to the top of the valve body, connected by screw threads I6. After the addi- 2,158,856 before drilling commences,-

tional stand has been connected, the valve controlling hose I 9 is again opened and momentarily mud is being circulated through both hoses I9 and 29. Then the valve controlling hose 29 is closed, which permits the valve I2 to again cover opening I3. 'I'he hose 29 is then disconnected and the plug 2'I is replaced and, before the union is lowered into the drill safetys sake, be welded.

It is believed the operation of my apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description. It is understood, of course, that many types of valve ,assemblies may be employed. The plugs 21 inserted in openings I3 are used for safetys sake since it would be disastrous to have the valve carried away in a section which was deep in the well. I

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claim without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A drill pipe coupling means including in combination a nipple adapted to be threaded into a hole, the plug may, for

length of drill pipe, a body member formed with an enlarged interior chamber secured to said nipple, said body member being formed with means adapted to secure it to another section of drill pipe, a valve pivoted within said chamber and adapted to be swung to positions transverse to and axially of said body member, said body member being formed with an axial opening providing communication through said chamber between the sections of drill pipe coupled by the assembly, said body member being formed with a transverse opening providing access between said chamber and the exterior of said body member, said valve being positioned in said chamber to be swung to a position alternately closing either of said axial or transverse openings, said transverse opening being internally threaded, a plug adapted to be inserted into said opening and interacting means carried by said valve and said plug for securing said valve in a position closing 

